Aggression Phase?

[SusiQ]

Chelle, if your baby IS a mix, no matter how minor the proportion, that could be exactly the reason for his being very social. My WGSD/Arctic mix LOVES other dogs - loves to be with them, play with them, etc. - he is a canine social butterfly! My pure GSD female is a total BIOTCH around other dogs - I wouldn't consider taking her to a dog park. Enjoy - you truly have the best of both worlds!

[Holmeshx2]

Personally I heard everyone say dog parks are no place for GSD's and I decided to try them anyways while Jinx was young. First time there was idiot dog and owner where I said more then a few choice words to him then took Jinx and left (his dog has NO doggie manners and the owner didn't care that other dogs were making his dog bloody from corrections but the dog wouldn't back off and since his dog wasn't hurting other dogs just getting hurt he didn't care) another time someone came in with 5 dogs when you're only allowed 2 per person and just dropped them off then left met someone came back but stayed in their car a good 50 ft or so from the outside of the fence with doors and windows closed again said something and took Jinx and left (their dogs were acting like fools and ruining it for everyone dog and people alike) She loved going loved chasing other dogs but then would come running back to me and engage in play then run again. Then she got a little older (like 6 months) and realized she quit caring about the other dogs she would run in the gate and turn around jumping at me to throw the ball I had and thats all she would focus on no matter how hard other dogs tried to play with her. I quit going because I realized she didn't care about the other dogs she just wanted to play fetch with me and there are a million other places to toss a ball around with her then the dog park. Now she still likes/tolerates other dogs will wag her tail and lick them when meeting in stores and out walking she doesnt care to really PLAY. If another dog gets pushy into trying to MAKE her play she will turn around and snap. She doesn't make contact but definitely does not tolerate rude pushy behavior from another dog so I just keep them away from her so she doesn't feel like she has to correct them but if the dog is polite she's perfectly fine with them but still definitely prefers me always has and always will shes just more of a people dog then a dog's dog lol.

[bbbarber]

My GSD loved going to the park as a puppy and still does now.

For my dog, I think that it was helpful to expose him to different situations and breeds, like others said, you can do that at home or at the park, its your choice. I did notice that Cooper became more dominant as he aged in the park, he would "neck" dogs to show that he was bigger. Of course I was diligent and corrected him until it was no longer necessary. (I ultimately had him neutered at 2.5yrs, it was a good decision. It didn't "change" him like others had warned me, he's still himself). He does well now and has "grown" out of it.

He likes playing chase with the dogs and especially likes puppies, he is a full blooded GSD and likes to play with dogs. My neighbor's lab runs up to the porch at night and sits at the glass door waiting on Coop to come out and play. I don't see any harm in that, he's got friends, so do I, ha. Of course he is overly attached to me, aren't all GSD's and I'll have to admit that I'm pretty attached to him too.

[chelle]

Originally Posted by SusiQ

Chelle, if your baby IS a mix, no matter how minor the proportion, that could be exactly the reason for his being very social. My WGSD/Arctic mix LOVES other dogs - loves to be with them, play with them, etc. - he is a canine social butterfly! My pure GSD female is a total BIOTCH around other dogs - I wouldn't consider taking her to a dog park. Enjoy - you truly have the best of both worlds!

Thanks and you're probably right. Bailey's mom, pb WGSD, would not be a good dog park dog. I have never taken her there, but I don't need to to know that. She loves her people and her pack but she just would be annoyed by all the dogs running around. I can say that with absolute certainty, just knowing her as I do. Lately my son has said, Mom, I should take her there to get more socialized and I'm like, NOPE, son, she doesn't need that. Don't set her up for a bad situation. I'm a dog park person *for the right dog* but she isn't that.

Originally Posted by bbbarber

My GSD loved going to the park as a puppy and still does now.

For my dog, I think that it was helpful to expose him to different situations and breeds, like others said, you can do that at home or at the park, its your choice. I did notice that Cooper became more dominant as he aged in the park, he would "neck" dogs to show that he was bigger. Of course I was diligent and corrected him until it was no longer necessary. (I ultimately had him neutered at 2.5yrs, it was a good decision. It didn't "change" him like others had warned me, he's still himself). He does well now and has "grown" out of it.

He likes playing chase with the dogs and especially likes puppies, he is a full blooded GSD and likes to play with dogs. My neighbor's lab runs up to the porch at night and sits at the glass door waiting on Coop to come out and play. I don't see any harm in that, he's got friends, so do I, ha. Of course he is overly attached to me, aren't all GSD's and I'll have to admit that I'm pretty attached to him too.

Key thing I think. (bolded) Diligence is so important. If I get to the point that my "control" and "diligence" is no longer enough, we won't go anymore. I've been pleasantly surprised that just a handful of corrections have (so far) shut down Bailey's attempts to be dominant. He's so young still, so I'm not saying that's "over." Only that, so far, he's responded to it very well.

I could stay home and not deal with those sorts of things. (Dominance displays by a male coming into maturity, sexual behaviors, again, by a male coming into maturity,) but if I can properly control it, train it away, work with it, I'd so rather do that than sit home and avoid it.

[chelle]

@ bbbarber -- Oh and I just want to say -- the dog in your avatar is some kind of absolutely and stunning beautiful dog!!!!!!!!!!